An inclusive scene
You needn’t worry about being on your own. Sheffield is a diverse city proudly welcoming people from all kinds of backgrounds and from every part of the world. So much so, we became the first official City of Sanctuary in 2007. Sheffield is famously relaxed and friendly - a major city with a community feel. You’re bound to find your people here.
Students make up a huge part of the fabric of the city and are important members of the Sheffield community. Whichever university you choose, you’ll find an impressive range of student societies, plus tonnes of opportunities to get involved in local projects and activities.
The city is full of groups to help you explore Sheffield, meet people like you and realise your potential. Peaks of Colour, which provides a space for people of colour to access Sheffield’s green spaces, is just one example of many, and our growing LGBTQ+ scene means we have safe spaces for everyone to flourish.
“Sheffield is full of friendly people like my hometown in India. I never felt lonely as there was always someone around to catch up with. Sheffield has everything a student needs to live their life peacefully and there are so many students which brings the city to life.”
Vikram Bhavsar, Sheffield Hallam University engineering graduate
Amal visiting the City of Sanctuary
Watch our documentary about how we prepared for Amal's journey all the way from the Syria / Turkey border, and how we celebrated her arrival.
“Living in a diverse and inclusive city makes me feel welcome and gives me a wide exposure into people’s culture. Making friends from different nationalities also helps to develop a sense of belonging into the community.”
Harald Tang, aerospace engineering student at the University of Sheffield
"I'm from Pakistan and I appreciate how multicultural the city is.
Ahsan Nauman, Sheffield Hallam University engineering student
"Lots of my friends researched things like nightlife or alumni when choosing a university, but I had other priorities too - like how diverse the city is, how safe and welcomed I might feel, and whether the university and wider community is gay-friendly."
Luke Allan, Sheffield Hallam University public relations and media graduate